Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 11 (ANI): Swapna Suresh, a key suspect in the Kerala gold smuggling cases, has been taken in custody by National Investigation Agency here.
Her family members have also been taken into custody by NIA, which is probing the case.
She will be produced at the NIA office in Kochi on Sunday.
The Customs Department had on July 5 seized 30 kg gold worth Rs 15 crore concealed in diplomatic consignment at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.
The NIA on Friday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Sarith Kumar, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the three persons allegedly involved in the case.
The agency has charged them with offences under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Swapna Suresh was on the run following the gold seizure. She was employed in Space Park and Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITL), which comes under the IT department, a portfolio held by Kerala Chief Minister. She was ousted after being named an accused in the case.
Sarith Kumar, an accused in the case who had previously worked as a public relations officer (PRO) in UAE Consulate-General’s office in Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested on July 6.
Kerala Youth Congress demands CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation over gold smuggling case
Kerala Youth Congress carried out a march to Police Commissioner’s office in Kochi on Saturday, demanding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan‘s resignation in the gold smuggling case.
Youth Congress state President and MLA Shafi Parambil lead the march and Congress MLA Anwar Sadath was also present in the protest.
”We are compelled to question the government when they did not keep social distancing with smugglers, gold smugglers and murderers. We are not merchants of death. We are not trying to spread the disease. We have not spread the disease,” Shafi Parambil told reporters.
“Such protocol violations occur when the government is ready to exploit the helplessness of the people who can’t respond in this COVID time. The government says that the opposition and youth organisations should not speak out and the media should not ask questions even when every crime reaches the level of treason,” he added.
On July 5, around 30 kg gold worth Rs 15 crore, concealed in diplomatic consignment, was seized at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport by the Customs Department.
Youth League members demand resignation of CM, police use tear gas to disperse protesters
Police on Friday used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the members of Youth League, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, as they were protesting in Kozhikode to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over gold smuggling case.
Workers of the party tried to push back police force as they were moving towards collectorate’s office in Kozhikode. Following this, police resorted to lathi-charge, water cannon and tear gas. Three activists who have suffered minor injuries in the incident have been hospitalised. MYL state president PK Firos has also sustained injuries.
Police also used tear gas shells to disperse Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers, who were also protesting in Kozhikode and demanding the resignation of Vijayan.
State capital Thiruvananthapuram is under triple lockdown due to surge in coronavirus cases. This is why strikes are being held at Kozhikode.
On July 5, around 30 kg gold worth Rs 15 crore, concealed in diplomatic consignment, was seized at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport by the Customs Department.
